Boris Johnson announces England to be placed into national lockdown from 05/01/2021
Boris Johnson has announced that England will go into a full national lockdown from the 05/01/2021. This will replace the tiered system until further notice. This means that there is a stay at home notice unless for essential reasons.
Hospitality and non essential retail sectors must now shut again unless they are providing takeaway food and non alcoholic drinks services (until 11pm) or click and collect/delivery.
Employees must now work from home where possible. Where this is not possible you can still travel into work.
For the Marine Industry sectors this means the following:
Manufacturing including but not limited to boatbuilding and refit/repair yards can stay open with COVID-19 secure protocols in place (please see government guidance here). However it should be noted that members of the public should not be travelling to move vessels to repair yards or attend builds in progress.
Surveyors – can continue to operate and visit yards and vessels and attend sea-trials without members of the public.
Brokerage – brokerages are non essential retail and must shut to the members of the public, and employees must work from home. Enquiries can still be taken and virtual viewings given however there must be no physical viewings or meetings with clients. Brokers can continue to sell houseboats/residential moorings and vessels as long as they are being sold as the customers primary place of residence. It will be down to the brokers to obtain proof that is the intended purpose of the sale.
Non-essential retail including but not limited to chandleries and clothing shops must shut except for deliveries and click and collect services (where the goods are pre-ordered and collected off the premises).
Hire boat and charter vessel operations will need to close.
Hospitality services such as passenger vessels will need to close unless for very specific reasons and with very limited numbers such as holding a wake for up to 6 people.
British Marine are still waiting industry specific guidance from the government and will update our membership once this is received.
Travel
You must not leave your home unless you have a reasonable excuse (for example, for work or education purposes).
Avoid car sharing with anyone from outside your household or your support bubble. See the guidance on car sharing.
If you need to use public transport, you should follow the safer travel guidance.
You can only travel internationally – or within the UK – where you first have a legally permitted reason to leave home. In addition, you should consider the public health advice in the country you are visiting.
Foreign nationals are subject to the ‘Stay at Home’ regulations. This means they cannot travel into the UK for boat sales etc.